Brianna Barksdale

My name's Brianna Barksdale, a heavy name to own
One brother is in Jessup now, he used to wear the crown
My other brother's head was blown, before the towers came down
We held our corners, made beaucoup dough, we used to run this town
But, that's before D'Angelo was killed inside the joint
Since then I've been askin' myself "Just what the hell's the point
of killing off our children, for crime and drugs and money
How many of our finest dead? 100's - 1000's, yo it ain't even funny!"
That smarmy bastard Stringer Bell, he ran the game his way
"Let's go legit, B, play away games, by-pass that road to hell."
Avon came back loud and strong, "I want my corners yo!"
String disagreed, Avon prevailed, he's just a gangster I suppose.
Now, D is gone, Stringer too, who's left to carry on?
With Slim and Bodie holding court, I don't want to go on
Avon's gone for many years, D ain't comin' back
I'm takin stock of what I have, and letting go the slack
One brother sits alone and waits for someone to come through
I'm sure he doesn't even know, ain't nothin but a few
Left behind to carry on the Barksdale family name
It ain't personal, it's business, yo!
It's just part of the game
How could I have been so blind, how could I not tell
D'Angelo was murdered on the word of Stringer Bell
And what part did Avon play in this set up like suicide hit
How could he have looked the other way in the midst of all this shit?
I watched Avon in court that day, he kept turning around
Looking at me with those soulful eyes as all this shit came down
I had to leave, I couldn't watch this foolishness no more
How could he not know what they did
When they hung D by a strap on the door
The only life I can hope to change is my son's son, Terrell
His mother's lost two men she used, and one was Stringer Bell
That name comes back to haunt me even though he's dead and gone
There's just not one good reason why we should carry on
There really is no reason to stay and play this game
For all the money that we made, the end turns out the same
What good are all those dollars, those cars and high tech cribs
When my child's lying in a grave for the life I had him live
I cannot get my son back, no matter what I do
I can only hope to save his son, this fact it does ring true
Send your child to the streets, they might not come back to you
So all you sistas out there who think this is the way
To get ahead, just think instead about the real price you'll pay
You don't have to listen, but I've got a tale to tell
It began with dreams of big things, and ended in my own personal hell.

AnitaCocktail inspired by Medeva
17 February 2005
--
Do The Damn Thing!

JOHNNY

I know most of you think of me as a sick addicted thing
But none of you must know the joy a real good high can bring
Aint no sense in trying to change me, think I’m givin up my head
I may not have a home like yours, but I always find a bed
You see I just came up this way, my parents both were strung
They had me running dope at eight, climbing up that rung
But like a kid, I didn’t know the impact of that shit
I used to just dip and snort, now I’m deep into it
I’ve never given any thought to what I’d want to be
If I wasn’t always schemeing, my life has never been free
Of pain or fear or circumstance that’s left me victimized
I find no joy, no love; you wonder why I get high ?
I got my man Bubbles, he took me under his wing
We used to be real tight, but man, it ain’t no thing
He’s been there at my lowest and he’s been there just as high
I know he’ll probably be there on the day I die
For that is eventual, I got the bug you see
And Bubbles is the only one who gives a damn for me
I know he tries to clean it up, to work a real job
But sure as hell he’ll get got if he fuck with Barksdale mob
I know he thinks he must avenge the harm was done to me
Damn, Bubbs, let it go, hit this and let’s get free
Of all this inner turmoil, of all this nasty shit
Wrap that arm, tap that vein, and boot that perfect hit
Ahhhh, that’s it, oblivion, the perfect loving place
There remains no memory of the pain etched on my face
When I can’t get that powder, or I can’t find a vein
To get me back to that perfect place in my heroin nod again
I wander through these mean streets, still looking for a scam
The copper house, the ladder; I’m an opportunist, I am
I wander in and out of the dankness and destruction
Always searching for what to me is the ultimate seduction
The power of the poppy, it has owned my life
From the time I was a child, it’s caused abandonment and strife
Now I’m not making excuses for the life I chose to live
I’m purely stating fact for you, it’s all I have to give
To provide you with some insight into how I came to be
A junkie and a thief and a little boy yearning to be free
The arms of heroin enfold me like my mother never would
And it gives me peace and comfort like no woman ever could
So please don’t just dismiss me as some poor addicted fool
I could’ve been a scholar if I’d only stayed in school
If I’d only had the guidance to show me the right direction
I wouldn’t be out there roaming the streets looking for a dope connection
But life had other plans for me and this is what I got
Living life hour to hour hoping it ain’t no hot shot
I really doesn’t matter now, there’s nothin’ left for real
Except to hang on one more day for a better deal
For a chance to clean my act up, nah, I ain’t with that strife
Cause I like getting high more than I like life
So when that final day comes and they put what’s left to rest
Remember to love your kids and not treat them like a pest
Don’t let them run your drugs for you, or offer them the pipe
Their hungry minds are wide open, and their souls are ripe
For picking from the worst of all the choices that we have
You shouldn’t destroy their innocence if you can’t provide the salve
Until that day I’ll just keep on doin what I do
Getting high and getting high, it ain’t no thing to you.

AnitaCocktail
3/9/05
In Memory of BKMc, PM & Michael